Snow Load Shape Coefficients and Snow Prevention Method for Stepped Flat Roofs
Excessive snow load and nonuniform snow deposition are the main factors leading to building collapses. The snow load shape coefficient represents the dimensionless snow load, and its value is related to the unbalanced distribution of snow. The snow load shape coefficients for stepped flat roofs vary...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/22/12109 |
| _version_ | 1827640823962927104 |
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| author | Zhibo Zhang Wenyong Ma Qiang Li Sai Li |
| author_facet | Zhibo Zhang Wenyong Ma Qiang Li Sai Li |
| author_sort | Zhibo Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Excessive snow load and nonuniform snow deposition are the main factors leading to building collapses. The snow load shape coefficient represents the dimensionless snow load, and its value is related to the unbalanced distribution of snow. The snow load shape coefficients for stepped flat roofs vary greatly in the codes of different regions, which always leads to underestimation of snow loads. We need a widely used standard for snow load shape coefficients. Therefore, through a combination of field measurements and numerical simulations, this study probes the snow accumulation processes and snow load shape coefficients on stepped flat roofs and proposes an equation to calculate snow load shape coefficients and the optimal slope of snow protection for lower roofs. It is found that the maximum snow load shape coefficient emerges at the roof junction with a value of 3.44. The nonuniform length of the snow accumulation is equal to two times the level difference. Based on these, the equation of the snow load shape coefficients is summarized, which is combined with the discrepancies between different codes and the regularity of snow distributions. In this study, the dynamic grid technology under the Eulerian framework is used to successfully predict snow accumulation on stepped flat roofs, and it is noted that snow erosion and deposition are closely related to the location and size of vortexes. Finally, we consider that the ideal slope for the lower roof to prevent snow should be 11°. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:04:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dfd37dc056bc40feb868240be467453d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T17:04:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-dfd37dc056bc40feb868240be467453d2023-11-24T14:26:14ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-11-0113221210910.3390/app132212109Snow Load Shape Coefficients and Snow Prevention Method for Stepped Flat RoofsZhibo Zhang0Wenyong Ma1Qiang Li2Sai Li3School of Civil Engineering, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang 051132, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang 051132, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang 051132, ChinaSchool of Civil Engineering, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang 051132, ChinaExcessive snow load and nonuniform snow deposition are the main factors leading to building collapses. The snow load shape coefficient represents the dimensionless snow load, and its value is related to the unbalanced distribution of snow. The snow load shape coefficients for stepped flat roofs vary greatly in the codes of different regions, which always leads to underestimation of snow loads. We need a widely used standard for snow load shape coefficients. Therefore, through a combination of field measurements and numerical simulations, this study probes the snow accumulation processes and snow load shape coefficients on stepped flat roofs and proposes an equation to calculate snow load shape coefficients and the optimal slope of snow protection for lower roofs. It is found that the maximum snow load shape coefficient emerges at the roof junction with a value of 3.44. The nonuniform length of the snow accumulation is equal to two times the level difference. Based on these, the equation of the snow load shape coefficients is summarized, which is combined with the discrepancies between different codes and the regularity of snow distributions. In this study, the dynamic grid technology under the Eulerian framework is used to successfully predict snow accumulation on stepped flat roofs, and it is noted that snow erosion and deposition are closely related to the location and size of vortexes. Finally, we consider that the ideal slope for the lower roof to prevent snow should be 11°.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/22/12109field measurementsnumerical simulationsstepped flat roofssnow load shape coefficientssnow accumulation processessnow prevention |
| spellingShingle | Zhibo Zhang Wenyong Ma Qiang Li Sai Li Snow Load Shape Coefficients and Snow Prevention Method for Stepped Flat Roofs Applied Sciences field measurements numerical simulations stepped flat roofs snow load shape coefficients snow accumulation processes snow prevention |
| title | Snow Load Shape Coefficients and Snow Prevention Method for Stepped Flat Roofs |
| title_full | Snow Load Shape Coefficients and Snow Prevention Method for Stepped Flat Roofs |
| title_fullStr | Snow Load Shape Coefficients and Snow Prevention Method for Stepped Flat Roofs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Snow Load Shape Coefficients and Snow Prevention Method for Stepped Flat Roofs |
| title_short | Snow Load Shape Coefficients and Snow Prevention Method for Stepped Flat Roofs |
| title_sort | snow load shape coefficients and snow prevention method for stepped flat roofs |
| topic | field measurements numerical simulations stepped flat roofs snow load shape coefficients snow accumulation processes snow prevention |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/22/12109 |
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